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Method and apparatus for transmitting information between a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle

Method and apparatus for transmitting information between a primary vehicle and a secondary vehicle description/claims

This application is a continuation in part of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/820,847, filed Jun. 20, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/815,353, filed Jun. 21, 2006; and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/966,112, filed Aug. 24, 2007; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/995,173, filed Sep. 24, 2007; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/999,417, filed Oct. 17, 2007.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a vehicle to vehicle warning or other information. More specifically, the invention is a method and apparatus by which a warning or other information may be transmitted between a primary vehicle, such as an ambulance, fire truck, police car, school bus, or train, and one or more secondary vehicles, such as passenger vehicles, or vice versa.

In order to provide a warning to others, vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks and police cars (“primary vehicles”) may utilize loud sirens or flashing lights. Those warnings are generally provided for drivers of other vehicles (“secondary vehicles”). Unfortunately, these warning methods are often not effective, not being heard or seen by drivers or passengers of the secondary vehicles. Other warning means may provide warnings via the secondary vehicle radio. However, communications systems that utilize a secondary vehicle's radio are also not particularly effective, since the driver of the vehicle may not have their radio turned on.

Various prior art exists which describes signal generators and use of those signals. However, this prior art does not teach or suggest a warning signal system which is effective for use with vehicles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,661,470 (Karr) This invention relates to LC responders and particularly to LC responders that are placed within objects such as toys. In operation, an interrogation or base unit sends a pulse and passive responders reply with their unique frequency which is sensed by the base unit triggering a particular response such as turning on a motor etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,167 (Wahlstrom) teaches a system in which bursts of radio frequency are transmitted to excite and thereby detect the presence of passive resonant circuits. If a circuit is resonant at a particular burst frequency, it is excited, rings and emits a radio frequency signal. Following each transmitted burst, a receiver is turned on to receive energy emitted by the resonant circuit so that if a resonant circuit is excited, its emitted energy is received and the particular resonant circuit can be identified.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,244 (Lichtblau) is an electronic security system adapted having improved noise discrimination for use in a controlled area such as a retail store and employing a multi-frequency resonance tag circuit having distinct frequencies for detection and discrimination.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,895,368 (Gordon) describes an apparatus in which a microwave signal generator projects an electromagnetic wave into a space under surveillance to establish a first field. A pulse or frequency modulated low frequency generator is used to apply a voltage to a discontinuous conductor for establishing a second field, electrostatic in nature, throughout the space. Presence in the space of a miniature, passive, electromagnetic wave receptor-reradiator in the form of a semi-conductive diode connected to a dipole antenna causes the reradiation of the low frequency component modulated on the microwave component as a carrier. The front end of a receiver system is tuned to the microwave frequency signal. A coincidence circuit energizes an alarm circuit whenever the detected signal coincides with the original modulation envelope being applied to the low frequency generator.

The present invention is an inexpensive, simple, and independent warning and/or information transmission or exchange system. In accordance with one aspect of the system, a primary vehicle may alert its proximity to a plurality of secondary vehicles. These secondary vehicles will then be able to yield in a timely fashion to the primary vehicle. In other embodiments, secondary vehicles may alert their proximity to one or more primary vehicles. In other embodiments, other information may be exchanged or transmitted between the vehicles.

In one embodiment, a primary vehicle is equipped with a transmitter and the secondary vehicles are equipped with receivers, and the secondary vehicles are configured to provide or initiate a warning in the event a signal is detected from a primary vehicle. The transmitter and/or signal may be active, such as a transmitter transmitting a wireless signal, or passive, such as a transmitter/signal which is detectable by the secondary vehicle.

One aspect of the invention is a method and apparatus that comprises a radio transmitter in the primary vehicle and radio receivers in the secondary vehicles.

Another form of the invention relates to a method and apparatus that comprises the primary vehicle housing a multi-frequency a microwave signal generator which transmits an electromagnetic wave into secondary vehicles which house a receiver system tuned to the microwave frequency signal. A coincidence circuit energizes an alarm circuit whenever the detected signal coincides with the original modulation envelope being applied to the low frequency generator.

In yet another embodiment, the transmitter associated with the primary vehicle is passive and configured to be detected by receiver or detector associated with the secondary vehicle(s). Such a system may employ radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs).

The warning system preferably includes a warning device in the secondary vehicle. The warning system may comprise an existing audio system of the vehicle, where the system is configured to generate an audible and/or visible warning.

In one embodiment, the system of the invention may be utilized to transmit information between vehicles. For example, vehicle liability insurance, vehicle VIN or license plate ID, vehicle occupant identification or contact information or medical condition or medical insurance information may be transmitted from a secondary vehicle (such as a passenger vehicle) to a primary vehicle (such as an emergency vehicle).

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

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